Families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and Gazan civilians seeking respite from the incessant Israeli airstrikes were left disappointed on Wednesday after the White House dismissed a report by the Washington Post that claimed citing people familiar with the developments that a Israel and Hamas agreed to a deal brokered by the US to free hostages by allowing a five day pause in the war.
2023 Israel-Hamas War: Full Coverage
The deal, if agreed upon, would bring respite to the aforementioned parties as Israeli families of hostages increase pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of hostages. It would also buy enough time for the international community, UN organisations and multilateral forums to assess the damage in Gaza.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in response to the October 7 attacks, which Israeli officials say killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and saw about 240 people taken hostage.
The army’s relentless air and ground campaign has since killed 12,300 people, more than 5,000 of them children, according to the Hamas government which has ruled Gaza since 2007.
Here Are the Latest Updates from the Israel-Hamas War:
- Claim Clash: A clash of claims and counterclaims on hostage release and a pause in the Israel-Hamas war from the Washington Post and the White House left Israelis and Palestinians hurt and disappointed. Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza have increased the pressure of the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu to secure their release. While Palestinians are in desperate need of food, fuel, medicines, water and electricity as incessant bombardment in retaliation to October 7 Hamas attacks turns Gaza into a barren wasteland.
- Incorrect Reports: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the reports of a deal to free hostages and said that no deal has been agreed upon and said there were “a lot of incorrect reports” being published.
- Strip-Searched: Patients evacuated from the Al Shifa hospital told news agency AFP that they were strip-searched by Israeli soldiers. The report by AFP cited a Palestinian patient admitted to the Al-Shifa hospital who said Israeli soldiers interrogated patients in the compound’s courtyard and ‘some left naked’ after interrogation. “It was hell. They stripped us, searched us and beat us,” Rami Sharab, 24, who was stuck in the hospital for some 20 days, was quoted as saying by AFP.
- Netanyahu Pressured by Hostage Kin: The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing strong calls from the families of those held hostage in Gaza to secure their release. A rally was staged by the families from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and on Saturday the marchers entered the Israeli capital city (also claimed by Palestine) chanting “Bring them home now!”. One of the posters read: “Mum we’re waiting for you. Come back”.
- Biden Pushes for Two-State Solution: US President Joe Biden said Gaza and West Bank should be reunited under a revitalised Palestinian Authority and backed the two-state solution in order to end the Israel-Palestine conflict. “As we strive for peace, Gaza and the West Bank should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalised Palestinian Authority, as we all work toward a two-state solution,” Biden wrote in the piece published in The Washington Post.
- Lebanon Aluminium Factory Struck:Israel on Saturday struck an aluminium factory deep in Lebanese territory, Lebanese state media said.
- IDF Death Toll Reaches 58: The Times of Israel in a report said that at least 58 Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have died in the siege of Gaza.
